The potential of enriched mesenchymal stem cells with neural crest cell phenotypes as a cell source for regenerative dentistry

Effective regenerative treatments for periodontal tissue defects have recently been demonstrated using mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). Furthermore, current bioengineering techniques have enabled de novo fabrication of tooth-perio dental units in mice. These cutting-edge technologies are expected to address unmet needs within regenerative dentistry. However, to achieve efficient and stable treatment outcomes, preparation of an appropriate stem cell source is essential. Many researchers are investigating the use of adult stem cells for regenerative dentistry; bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) are particularly promising and presently used clinically. However, current BM-MSC isolation techniques result in a heterogeneous, non-reproducible cell population because of a lack of identified distinct BM-MSC surface markers. Recently, specific subsets of cell surface markers for BM-MSCs have been reported in mice (PDGFR alpha(+) and Sca-1(+)) and humans (LNGFR(+), THY-1(+) and VCAM-1(+)), facilitating the isolation of unique enriched BM-MSCs (so-called purified MSCs''). Notably, the enriched BM-MSC population contains neural crest-derived cells, which can differentiate into cells of neural crestand mesenchymal lineages. In this review, characteristics of the enriched BM-MSCs are outlinedwith a focus on their potential application within future regenerative dentistry. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Japanese Association for DentalScience.